There are plenty of haunted places to visit in Oklahoma but we checked out the most terrifying places and they are downright horrifying. From cemeteries to hotels to ghost towns, these 11 places are not for the faint of heart. If you think you’re up for the challenge, check them out and then see if you can sleep tonight.
1. St. Vincent’s Mental Asylum
St. Vincent’s Mental Asylum was operated by the Brothers of Mercy - a religious order providing care for the mentally ill. Starting in the 1960s murders began to surface out of the asylum. The first known tragedy began when a nurse inexplicably suffocated two patients. The asylum was then run by a priest named Frank Dolan who turned it into a drug rehab center. Things again went horribly wrong when Father Dolan was killed on the property by the patients he was trying to help. The facility only lasted until the 1980s when it was shut down. The property is now believed to be haunted by tortured souls of the past.
2. Dead Woman’s Crossing
If you’ve spent much time in Weatherford, Oklahoma, you’ve probably heard about the ghost story of Mrs. James. Local legend claims that Mrs. James and her baby were murdered in this area and their restless spirits now roam the streets and banks near Deer Creek. Other stories claim that if you stand beneath the bridge crossing the creek and listen closely, you might hear the rattle of wagon wheels rolling around above you.
3. Camp Scott
Camp Scott was once a bustling summer camp in Locust Grove until three young girls were brutally murdered in 1977. The camp closed its doors for good but there is rumors that the camp is now haunted from the killer and its dog. The camp is now located on private property and you must receive permission before going on the grounds.
4. Sacred Heart Mission
Sacred Heart Mission was built in 1880 and was used as a farm, school, chapel, seminary and boarding house. It was a flourishing mission until tragedy struck in 1901 when a fire broke out in the dining hall out and destroyed most of the facility. Many of the children died that day and it is said that their spirits still haunt the mission.
5. Haunted Parallel Forest
There’s one place in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge that most visitors don’t know exists – The Parallel Forest. The forest was built by the federal government as an experiment to deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl. Over 20,000 red cedars were planted exactly 6 feet apart in every direction on over 16 acres. As you can imagine, a creepy forest that is so uniform looking has brought with it many creepy stories of hauntings, urban legends, satanic rituals and everything else that would scare the living daylights out of you. Take the journey to this haunted forest and see what encounters you stumble upon in this misfit piece of land.
6. Stone Lion Inn
This Victorian mansion now operates as a bed & breakfast but was actually once a funeral home. The current owners report footsteps, slamming doors and the sound of children playing. They believe that the house is haunted by the ghost of the former residents’ daughter, who died in the home at the age of eight.
7. Picher
Picher, Oklahoma sprung up almost overnight in the early 1900’s when lead and zinc ore were discovered. Picher became the most productive lead-zinc mining field in the area, producing more than $20 billion worth of ore between 1917 and 1947. When mining ceased in 1967, so did water pumping from the mines. The contaminated water from 14,000 abandoned mine shafts, 70 million tons of mine tailings, and 36 million tons of mill sand and sludge remained as a huge environmental cleanup problem.
As a result of this environmental hazard area, it was designated as part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site around 1981. It became known as the "Most Toxic Place in America" by the EPA and is now a ghost town.
8. Timber Ridge Cemetery
VIDEO Locals have nicknamed Timber Ridge Cemetery in Catoosa - Haunted Hollow. Legend has it that a Native American boy who was hit by a car and killed while riding his bicycle in 1989 is buried here. Witnesses say that his spirit, along with his bicycle, can be seen along the roadside. Some say they have felt as if they hit something, but on getting out of the car and taking a look, found only a bloody hand print on the front of their car. Others say that those who walk past the graveyard may get sudden nosebleeds or see orbs above the graves.
9. Skirvin Hotel
Rumors of a haunting in this Oklahoma City hotel persist, and have even been cited by National Basketball Association (NBA) teams. The most notable examples occurred in 2010, when the New York Knicks famously blamed their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the haunting and when the Chicago Bulls reported doors slamming shut on their own and strange sounds outside their rooms.
As the story goes, the hotel's original owner, W. B. Skirvin, had an affair with a maid named "Effie," which led to a pregnancy. To protect his reputation and avoid a scandal, Skirvin locked the maid on the 10th floor. The maid became depressed and even after the birth of her child, she was still not let out of her room. She eventually jumped out a window killing herself and the baby. Effie now roams the hotel and haunts the guests.
10. Fort Reno
El Reno's historic Fort Reno is a former military camp established in 1874. You can take a professionally guided ghost tour of the grounds to get the full story of all the ghost stories and paranormal activity that has been reported by visitors. These stories include sounds of footsteps, doors mysteriously opening, strange lights and cold spots felt in certain buildings.
11. Jesse Creek Cemetery
One of the most haunted cemeteries in Oklahoma can be found in Bartlesville at the Jesse Creek Cemetery. Many paranormal happenings have been reported at Jesse Creek. For starters, locals say that cameras do not work while in the cemetery but will work fine once you get out of it. Also, spooky noises like giggles and cries can be heard. It's always an eerie place to visit but at night it is extra creepy.
Who thinks they can handle visiting all these places? If you’re looking for another scary adventure, take this haunted weekend road trip across Oklahoma. It will haunt your dreams!
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